FHW Staff – Mumbai
Intertek, one of the leading quality solution providers to industries worldwide, has announced that it has received accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL)for its food testing laboratory in Hyderabad. NABL is an autonomous body under the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India. The laboratory has also received accreditation from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
Speaking about the accreditation, Rajesh Saigal, regional managing director, Intertek South Asia said, “We are excited to announce the accreditation from NABL and BIS for our food testing laboratory in Hyderabad. The two accreditations are the ultimate benchmark which will provide our customers the much needed assurance of our reliable testing and calibration services conducted at the laboratory. Intertek has already marked its presence in the northern region and with this new development, Intertek will now be able to serve its clients in the southern belt as well.”
With increased consumer awareness and improved living standards, the demand for quality food in India has become increasingly important. The Indian government has also increased its food safety regulations, re-enforcing the importance for safer foods. With this new certification, Intertek will now offer its food testing services to the southern part of the country. Intertek has the capability to test food safety parameters like trace levels of pesticide residues, antibiotics, veterinary drugs and growth promoter residues, heavy metal contaminants, and other environmental contaminants which enter the food chain such as aflatoxins, plus various adulterants like Sudan dyes and microbiological parameters.
Siya Ram Tiwari, head-food services, Intertek South Asia added, “Our broad food testing capabilities enable our clients to effectively evaluate their spices and seafood at all stages of growth and production. We also have plans to get further approvals and recognitions for the Hyderabad lab like EIC approval for serving seafood testing and NRC approval for fruits and vegetable testing for the grape sector, peanut and okra sectors, in coming days.”